Rescuers are still searching for the 102 miners trapped in a coalmine that flooded in southern Guangdong Province on Sunday, according to a local government source.

The flooding occurred at about 1:30 PM Sunday in the private coal mine, Daxing, in Wanghuai Town, Meizhou City.

Only four miners escaped, one of whom has been hospitalized.

The coalmine is about 420 meters underground and rescuers are drawing water out with water pumps, said an official with the city government, who declined to give his name.

Previous reports said the number of miners trapped was 103, but the official said that was a miscalculation.

Investigations into the cause of the accident are underway.

Local government has ordered coalmines in the city to suspend operations for safety examinations.

More than 600 people have been mobilized to join in the rescue operations.

Experts estimate that 15 million to 20 million cubic meters of water have flooded the coalmine tunnel, and the water level is rising by 50 cm per hour.

At present, two pumps are pumping water out of the mine shaft. Another three are being installed.

However, experts have found it difficult to determine where exactly the water is coming from, which complicates rescue and investigation efforts.
 
In related news, a gas explosion at another coalmine killed 14 miners in Liupanshui City, southwest China's Guizhou Province early Monday morning. Two others are still missing.

The information provided by the provincial bureau of production safety was that 39 miners were working in the Wanzi Coalmine in Shuicheng County when the explosion occurred at about 3 a.m.

Only 23 miners escaped.

Rescue operations and investigations into the cause of the explosion are underway.

(Xinhua News Agency August 8, 2005)